After completing the first two stages of the training, Goku was trying to move that massive boulder.
This boulder is so heavy... But I have to move it... he thought. Slowly, his feet slid back, and the boy fell on the ground.
"Damn, it happened again..." he muttered, getting up and adjusting his eyepatch. "I have to do what I have to do..."
"Hey, Goku! Join us, take a break!" said a voice. Goku turned and saw Murata.
"Yeah, I'm coming..." said Goku, cracking his neck. The Sun Hashira walked up inside the room and sat alongside Murata.
"You're trying so hard to move that boulder... why do you want to become so strong?" asked a slayer, who was in the room with the two boys.
"I'm strong, but not strong enough," said Goku. "Right now, I could probably rival Upper Rank Three, or Two, if I go one-hundred and ten percent out, but Muzan? He's still out of my league, unfortunately."
"Oh, I see... but you won't be alone when the final battle begins, you know that?" said another slayer.
"Of course I know," said Goku. "But I'm a Hashira, probably the strongest one after Gyomei and maybe Sanemi, so I'll surely be one of the most important people in the battle... If I don't give it my all, then who will?"
"You're so wise and strong, Tsugikuni-san," said another slayer. "You really deserve to be where you are right now..."
"Thanks, buddy..." muttered Goku. Otosan... I swear, I'll defeat Muzan.
Six days later...
"It's been six days, and this boulder is still immovable!" exclaimed Goku, frustrated. "Those goddammed demons won't stay inactive forever!"
Finally, in a moment of frustration and rage, the boulder finally moved, exactly one cho away, as Gyomei said. Goku fell on the ground due to the movement of the boulder.
"Ouch..." he grunted, getting up. "I... I moved it! Finally!"
"Congratulations, Goku-kun, you finally made it," said a voice. Goku turned and saw Genya.
"Hey, Genya-kun! Are you okay?" said Goku.
"Yeah, I'm okay," said Genya. "Sorry for dragging you in that matter with my brother days ago... and thanks for defending me."
"Don't worry, Genya-kun," said Goku. "For you, this and more!"
"Anyway, I came here to talk about your mark," said Genya. "Are you able to maintain it for a prolonged period?"
"Yes, I am, but the longer I maintain it, the stronger the recoil will be," replied Goku.
"Oh, I see. How much time can you maintain your mark?" asked Genya.
"The maximum I've reached is an hour, but if I keep training, I can reach an hour and a half," replied Goku.
"Oh, fine," Genya said. "Beside you, Tokito, and Kanroji, nobody among the Hashira and the Demon Slayer Corps has the mark yet. You're our only hope, Goku-kun."
"Everyone among the Hashiras is strong, even without the mark," said Goku. "Stop counting on me, you all weigh a lot, and you intimidate me."
"Yeah, you're right..." muttered Genya. "Well, now I gotta leave. See you around."
"Watch your back, bro," said Goku. I finally moved this thing... I can finally sleep now!
The next day...
"You gotta do this, Inosuke-kun!" said Goku, who was explaining to Inosuke how to move the boulder. "It's called 'repetitive motion', you gotta open up all of your senses at once."
"Got it, boss!" exclaimed Inosuke. "Tempura! Tempura! Tempura!"
Slowly, he moved the boulder.
"Fantastic, Inosuke-kun!" exclaimed Goku, clapping his hands.
"What did you think about to move the boulder, boss?" asked Inosuke.
"My father, of course," said Goku.
"Inosuke managed to move the boulder, too! This only leaves me!" exclaimed Zenitsu. But then, the boy saw Chuntaro, his bird.
"Huh? A letter for me?" he asked, grabbing the letter from Chuntaro's leg.
The next day, after his training was completed, Goku decided to train alone in the forest anyway.
"Sun Breathing: First Form -- Dance!" he exclaimed, as he swung his two swords in the air. Both of my swords have a red blade; this is a good sign... mine became red when I was at the Swordsmith Village, Otosan's was already red when I found it...
Suddenly, he heard a very familiar voice. "You're continuing to train despite your training is over. What a dedication, my friend!"
"Hey, Kyojuro! It's been a long time, where have you been?" exclaimed Goku.
"I trained at my place all this time, nothing bad!" replied Rengoku.
"Did you manage to achieve your mark?" asked Goku.
"Yeah, I did thanks to my dedication and hard work!" replied Rengoku.
"I'm proud of you, bro," said Goku, smiling.
"Are you ready for the upcoming final battle?" asked the Flame Hashira.
"Of course I am, Kyojuro! I'll defeat any demons who get in my way!" exclaimed Goku.
"That's great! Just don't die on me, okay?" said Rengoku.
"You neither, though," said Goku.
"Let's make a promise: neither of us has to die in the final battle, okay?" said Rengoku.
"Promised, bro. Neither of us will die," said Goku.
"How's the others' training doing?" asked Rengoku.
"Zenitsu-kun is training to fight awake," said Goku. "As for Inosuke-kun, I have no idea."
Elsewhere, at Ubuyashiki's place, someone arrived: Muzan. The Demon King slowly walked up towards Ubuyashiki.
"He's here..." muttered Ubuyashiki. "I can feel his presence... Muzan is here..."
Muzan arrived right in front of Ubuyashiki.
"I found you, Ubuyashiki," he said.
"Nice to meet you, I should say..." said Ubuyashiki. "Muzan Kibutsuji."
"You're certainly looking hideous, Ubuyashiki," said Muzan.
"At last, you've made your way to me... in this moment, you're right before my eyes..." muttered Ubuyashiki. "The demon that my family, the Demon Slayer Corps, has been pursuing for the last thousand years... Amane, what kind of shape or form has he assumed?"
"He appears to be a young man in his early-to-late twenties," said Amane. "However, his eyes are a light pink color... and his pupils are vertical slits like a cat's."
"I knew you'd be coming. I always expected you'd come personally for me alone," said Ubuyashiki. "To kill me yourself..."
"I'm feeling utterly disenchantened, Ubuyashiki," said Muzan. "To see the head of the clan that for a thousand years had the gall to constantly thwart me in such a deplorable state. Your body is already giving off the scent of a corpse, Ubuyashiki."
In that moment, Ubuyashiki moved a bit, using his hand to slide to his right side to face Muzan. "I'm sure that it does. Six months ago, I was told by my doctor that I would be dead in a few days..."
He spat blood. "And yet here I am, still alive. And it's all thanks to my single-minded desire to defeat you... Muzan."
"That fleeting desire of yours is about to be shattered tonight," said Muzan, walking closer to Ubuyashiki. "I'm going to kill you now."
"You may not know this, but you and I descend from the same bloodline," said Ubuyashiki. "My clan has been cursed because the family produced a monster like you..."
"Your drivel has now reached its peak," said Muzan. "I'm about to gag."
"Muzan... What is your dream? What have you been dreaming about for the last thousand years?" asked Ubuyashiki. "Why don't I guess, Muzan? I can tell what's on your mind, you know. You're dreaming of eternity."
Chapter 49 - End